Ryan's Class 4 Final Four Preview

Semifinal 1: St. Pius X (Festus) Lancers 23-5 vs. Jefferson City Lady Jays 24-9   The Lancers are an extremely young and talented team and will be in the final four next year if they stay in Class 4. They have height, quickness, great outsides, and setters. They have yet to lose a set in the state playoffs as they swept all three district foes in Sikeston, DeSoto, and Festus. In the quarterfinals, they would knock off a solid Parkway West team 3-0. This is their 11th final four appearance, the first since 2019, and are looking to win the school's 4th state title.   Jefferson City outlasted several teams just to make the final four. In districts, they would beat Camdenton 3-1, squeak by Helias 3-2, and win the district title over Union 3-0. In the quarterfinals, they would beat last year's final four participants Webb City 15-13 in the 5th. Jefferson City is looking for the school's first title in its 4th final four appearances.   Common Opponents: None   Head-to-Head: No   Statistical Leaders for St. Pius:   [player_tooltip player_id='168037' first='Hannah' last='Leftridge'] has 368 kills and 199 digs.   [player_tooltip player_id='221231' first='Elena' last='Ruble'] has 55 aces and 839 assists.   [player_tooltip player_id='221230' first='Bennett' last='Raterman'] has 70 blocks and 261 kills.   [player_tooltip player_id='207277' first='Karlie' last='Lane'] has 220 digs.   Statistical leaders for Jefferson City:   Madilynn Mitchell has 297 assists and 316 kills.   [player_tooltip player_id='477954' first='Nola' last='Borgmeyer'] has 210 kills and 253 digs.   Brianna Avey has 69 blocks and 74 kills.   [player_tooltip player_id='477959' first='Aydia' last='Mayotte'] has 525 digs.   [player_tooltip player_id='150051' first='Hannah' last='Vogt'] has 505 assists.   Prediction: St. Pius X is an extremely talented team and has weapons in every position. They have two tremendously talented outsides and a monster blocker in the middle. They are an endless pursuit defense type of team with terminators on each pin. Jefferson City has one of the best opposites in Class 4 and will give the Lancers a push but not enough to win the match. Pius will advance to the finals with a 3-0 win.   Semifinal 2: St. Michael the Archangel Guardians 27-5 vs. Incarnate Word Academy Red Knights 32-10-1   The Guardians are making their 4th trip to the final four and looking to reach the title match for the first time. The school made the final four in the first three years of existence from 2017-2019. They swept through the district with wins over Grandview, Pembroke Hill, and Warrensburg. In the quarterfinals against Platte County, they would win 25-17, 20-25, 25-14, 11-25, and 15-7. Incarnate Word is the Class 4 runner-up from last season and has been my favorite to win it all this year. Incarnate hasn't lost a set yet in the playoffs with district wins over Roosevelt, Mccluer, and Ladue and a quarterfinal win over Lutheran STC. IWA is looking for the school's 12th state title in its 27th final-four appearance.   Common Opponents: St. Michael lost to Eureka and Francis Howell 0-2 and beat Kirkwood and St. Pius X (Festus) 2-1. Incarnate Word beat all four teams Eureka 3-1, Howell 3-0, Kirkwood 2-0, and St. Pius X 3-0.   Head-to-Head: No   Statistical leaders for St. Michael:   [player_tooltip player_id='124853' first='Mikalah' last='Davis'] has 374 kills and 268 digs.   [player_tooltip player_id='124855' first='Lily' last='Vanbebber'] has 314 kills and 346 digs.   [player_tooltip player_id='396499' first='Kinley' last='Gillihan'] has 235 kills and 62 blocks.   Addi Maclean has 942 assists.   [player_tooltip player_id='493102' first='Katie' last='Vargo'] has 488 digs.   Statistical leaders for Incarnate Word:   [player_tooltip player_id='169895' first='Tara' last='Greenberry'] has 460 kills and 95 blocks.   [player_tooltip player_id='169896' first='Ellie' last='Witthaus'] has 330 kills.   [player_tooltip player_id='235705' first='Abby' last='Freund'] has 474 digs.   [player_tooltip player_id='124225' first='Sammi' last='Bergjans'] has 1158 assist.   Prediction: This should be the most interesting matchup in the two Class 4 semifinals. Both teams are stacked with talent. IWA gets the edge of being in the championship game last year and experience. Both teams have fantastic setters and outsides, and both have talent but young middles. IWA has the best middle in Class 4 and has the best defense of any final four participants. Both teams have the heavy sluggers to win this match, but IWA has three of the best defenders in Class 4. This will give them the edge over the Guardians and push them into the finals with a 3-1 win.

Semifinal 1: St. Pius X (Festus) Lancers 23-5 vs. Jefferson City Lady Jays 24-9